Elon Musk Slams LA Mayor Over Wildfires as Losses Soar to $250 Billion

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Posted: January 19, 2025 at 1:49 pm, Updated: January 19, 2025 at 1:52 pm

Elon Musk Slams LA Mayor Over Wildfires as Losses Soar to $250 Billion

Elon Musk has sharply criticized Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, accusing her of putting politics ahead of people’s safety amid the raging wildfires in the city.

As fires ravaged California, Musk expressed his frustration that the mayor failed to act swiftly to prevent the devastation.

He pointed to a missed opportunity in 2020 when California rejected an offer from Russia to supply world-class firefighting planes that could have made a significant difference during the crisis.

The mayor of LA prioritizes politics over helping people … https://t.co/BUQOCr7r9y

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 17, 2025

Back in 2017, negotiations between Russia and the United States aimed to bring ten Beriev Be-200 firefighting jets to California. These planes, known for their effectiveness in battling wildfires across the globe, could have been stationed near LA, just 200 kilometers from the city’s fire hotspots, ready to help when the fires broke out.

The Beriev Be-200s are highly efficient firefighting aircraft, capable of carrying 12 tons of water or retardant. These jets can refill in just 14 seconds from nearby lakes, reservoirs, or even the ocean, and they have a range of 2,100 kilometers, allowing them to carry out multiple missions before needing to refuel.

However, this life-saving deal fell through due to political hurdles. The jets were supposed to use Ukrainian-made D-436TP engines, but the manufacturer, Motor Sich, failed to gain certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Without the necessary certification, the deal was scrapped, and California missed out on a potentially game-changing resource that could have saved lives and homes.

Politics Over Common Sense

Rostec, the parent company of Beriev, expressed disappointment that politics interfered with a deal that could have made a critical difference. They stated that all ten planes would have been operational by 2024. “Politics ruined common sense,” they said, blaming regulators for blocking the certification and leaving LA vulnerable as its wildfires grew more severe.

Meanwhile, the situation has worsened. Reports show that just days before the fires began on January 7, Mayor Bass approved a $49 million budget cut for fire services. This decision led to the closure of 16 fire stations, further limiting the city’s ability to respond to the disaster.

The wildfires currently engulfing California have already become the largest in the state’s history. More than 16,000 hectares have burned, and at least 27 people have died. Thousands of homes have been destroyed, including properties belonging to high-profile individuals. Dry and windy weather conditions have only made the fires spread more rapidly.

In the midst of this catastrophe, many residents are facing unimaginable losses. Aaron Miller, a Los Angeles County resident whose home was destroyed in the fires, recounted his experience. He told Sputnik that when firefighters arrived at his property, they were unable to put out the fire because the nearby fire hydrants had run dry.

“My house is gone, just like my neighbor’s,” Aaron said, pointing to the remnants of his home. “That was my neighbor. He died.”

Fire Hydrant Failures and Water Shortages

Reports indicate that the fire hydrants in Los Angeles ran dry during the wildfires due to an overwhelming demand on the city’s water system. Additionally, a crucial reservoir was offline for maintenance, further exacerbating the water shortage. This left firefighters without the necessary resources to combat the flames effectively, leaving many homes, including Aaron’s, to be consumed by fire.

The fires that began on January 7 have claimed the lives of at least 25 people and forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents. The destruction is far-reaching, with damages and economic losses expected to range between $250 billion and $275 billion, according to the U.S. weather forecasting service AccuWeather.

Elon Musk’s criticism of Los Angeles leadership has drawn attention to broader issues of government preparedness and decision-making during times of crisis. He believes that the city could have been better equipped to handle the fires if more proactive measures had been taken earlier, including accepting Russia’s offer for the Beriev Be-200 jets.

Musk’s comments have sparked debate on the role of politics in disaster response, with many arguing that practical, life-saving decisions should be prioritized over political concerns.

California’s struggle with wildfires is not new. The state has faced increasingly severe fire seasons in recent years due to a combination of factors, including climate change, dry weather, and growing urbanization in fire-prone areas. However, the state’s lack of preparedness, as demonstrated by the missed opportunity with the firefighting planes and the budget cuts to fire services, has come under intense scrutiny.

As the fires continue to burn and emergency crews work tirelessly to contain the flames, the full extent of the damage is still unfolding. With more than 12,300 buildings destroyed and countless families displaced, California is grappling with the aftermath of a disaster that has reshaped entire communities.

As California looks toward recovery, there are important lessons to be learned from this crisis. The failure to act on the Russian firefighting plane offer serves as a stark reminder of the importance of putting people’s safety ahead of political interests. The budget cuts to fire services and the failure to maintain adequate water supplies highlight the need for more sustainable and effective disaster preparedness strategies.

The ongoing wildfires in California have revealed the vulnerability of even the most developed regions in the face of natural disasters. As the state works to rebuild and recover, the hope is that future responses will be more focused on common sense and less influenced by political agendas.

For now, however, the people of Los Angeles and the surrounding areas are left to pick up the pieces of their lives as they navigate the aftermath of one of the most devastating wildfire seasons in the state’s history.

California’s wildfires are a tragedy on a massive scale, causing both human and financial losses that are difficult to quantify. With the death toll rising and thousands of homes destroyed, the response to the crisis has come under fire. Elon Musk’s criticism of LA’s leadership and the missed opportunity to secure firefighting planes serves as a reminder that political games should never stand in the way of saving lives. As California begins the long road to recovery, the lessons learned from this disaster will hopefully lead to better preparedness for future emergencies.